One Strange House

Chapter One

   Falling. That's what this is. Gravity is shite I guess. This is all so familiar. Nostalgic, even. Not sure how I got here, but I'm seeing colors flash by. Colors, shapes.. Sounds? It's hard to figure out what I'm hearing over the sound of my heart pounding and blood rushing, but I think it's panting. Not mine.. I'm strangely calm, falling to the end of my existence. Oh well. Why am I so calm? I'm falling to my death, for god's sake. Unless.. Oh lord. What was that?? I think I saw something lunge! There it is again!! It's coming for me, I can see it! All black, with yellow eyes and gleaming white fangs. Welp. That's positively terrifying. Why am I still so calm?? I'm about to freaking die!! And, considering that thing is currently lunging towards me, it won't even be from fall damage!! It's.. It's about to get me... It's jaws, wide open.. I guess it's over. All over. Goodbye, cruel world. I never loved you, nor will I ever. I hope you die with me.

   And on that note, I awoke. Nothing dramatic, like the movies and drama books with the panting and the racing heart and the "omg what a horrific dream if it hadn't ended soon I might've DIED". I just sorta opened my eyes and there I was, in a mess of sheets and blankets and general bed-ness. How nice. I'm sure mum will make me clean that whole thing up. Blegh. I guess I should get it over with, though.

   Getting up, I swiftly make my bed and get dressed. Jeans, a hoodie, converse. I have to meet Jack at twelve, and it's already nine, so I'm playin' overtime right now. Upon reaching the kitchen, I grab some food and greet my mother. "Well hello. Might you know where dad is on this fine, scorching morning?" I say.

   "Hi to you," she replies, cutting a banana for her smoothie, "Your father is off on a business trip again, a big closing deal. There's a good chance of a family vacation afterwards, so that's something to look forward to, hm?"

   "Yeah, I guess. What time did he leave?" I inquire.

   "He took a three a.m. red-eye, the poor guy," mum says, shouting the end of the sentence because she'd just turned the blender on.

   "Pfffft like he needs sleep anyway! I'm pretty sure he's a vampire. Have you seen his canines?!" I put my two index fingers over my canines as mock fangs, and waggle them in a playful nature.

   "Well I don't know about that, but I do know you need to go meet Jack. You're going to be late!" And with that last comment from mum, I grab my bag and go, rushing to the old junkyard to meet him.

I hummed as I walked a happy type of walk and entered the junkyard. Old pile ups of cars and scraps surrounded me, as well as bottles and other materials. Considering it's a junkyard, it had pretty much everything, I just couldn't tell because most of it was covered up with a big fat car. Delving deeper yet, I finally found Jack Stevens sitting at a makeshift bench working. He's always making some trinket or another, I'll tell ya. I don't know how he does it!

   "Hey dweeb. How's the tinkering going?" I ask nonchalantly.

  "Hey nerd. It's going pretty well, almost done fixing this and then we can get started. I'd like to work in peace, so go smash some bottles or whatever so I may do that?" Jack replied. I grunt in answer, as a yes. Eventually, after having smashed all the bottles I could find, I resort to just sitting down and watching him. Jack had a tan complexion, dark brown shaggy hair, and hazel-green eyes. He was pretty tall, too. We were sixteen and he was already 5'9", meanwhile I measured in at a whopping 5'5". Amazing, right?

Welcome to the jungle/We've got fun 'n' games/We got everything you want/Honey, we know the names/We are the people that can find/Whatever you may need/If you got the money, honey/We got your disease

   At the sound of my ringtone, Jack and I begin silently rocking out until it nears the end of the song, which is when I answer it.

{The following conversation will take a manuscript form}

Why hello mother of mine, how arth thou on this fine summer day of death?

Terrible. I just got the call; Grandma Coraline has passed away. I need you to do me a favor as soon as possible.

I notice that she's trying not to sound as though she's breaking down, but I can hear it. On the brink of her voice, lacing each word, is a sob that she won't let escape. She's hiding it; I'll pretend I don't notice.

Is this a private favor, or a favor I can do with Jack?

Public. Now--

Waiiit, I have to put you on speaker! A small emanates from the phone. Alright. Continue?

Go to Grandma's house and clean everything out. You know it best second only to her, and there is no worming out of this. There are items in her house that we need for the funeral, photos and heirlooms and memories.

Oh.. Okay. I'll just go do that then. Yeah. Bye. Love you.

   And with that, I hang up the phone.

   "Did you hear it all?" I ask, turning to Jack.

   "Yeah. Yeah, I did. I guess we should go do that?" He replies.

  "Yep. Let's head over. What's the worst that could happen?"

   God was I naive. Trust me when I say, I ate those words so hard it's unbelievable. Although, I think I'd prefer if this whole adventure weren't unbelievable; it means that everything that happened, actually occurred. It also means I'm not crazy. And those would, both, be quite the blessing.